Author: rincon

Is the Automated Ball-Strike System coming to the next World Baseball Classic?

In the aftermath of the controversial strike call in Sunday night’s semifinal between the United States and the Dominican Republic that sent Team USA to the WBC final, Baseball Hall of Famer and FOX Sports analyst Derek Jeter has a strong suspicion that ABS will be implemented in the next edition of the international baseball tournament.

“You can pretty much guarantee they’re going to have the challenge system in place for the next WBC, right?” Jeter said. “You hate to end a game that way, but you give credit to the U.S. They not only pitched well, they hit the two home runs; they played great defense; the U.S. deserved to go to the finals.”

With a runner on third and Fernando Tatis Jr. on deck, Geraldo Perdomo was called for a strike on a pitch that was seemingly well below the strike zone to end the game. Due to there being no ABS at this year’s World Baseball Classic, the Dominican Republic was unable to challenge.

“If you call a strike on a 101-102 miles per hour pitch on top of the zone, you can’t go down there and call that pitch a strike also,” Baseball Hall of Famer and Dominican icon David Ortiz said. “You’re expanding the strike zone against batters facing a really good pitcher.”

The Dominican Republic was held to just one run against the U.S. after scoring 14 runs entering Sunday’s semifinal. Their 15 runs at this year’s tournament are the most by a single team in World Baseball Classic history.

“You just hate to end a game this big, with these types of consequences, on a pitch that’s not a strike,” World Series champion Alex Rodriguez said.

Team USA will play the winner of Italy-Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

It wasn’t a high-scoring semifinal affair, but Team USA is back into the World Baseball Classic championship game. 

Two solo home runs against the Dominican Republic in Sunday’s semifinal were enough to keep the USA on track toward winning the 2026 title. One more game left.

Who’ll be the opponent? It will be either Italy and Venezuela, who’ll play in the other semifinal game on Monday (8 p.m. ET on FS1).

Recapping Sunday’s action and taking a peek at Monday’s second semifinal game:

USA Into WBC Final, Holds Off Dominican Republic

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In a game filled with All-Stars, sluggers and home run machines, it was two solo shots by rather unlikely heroes that gave USA the 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic. 

Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each went yard in the fourth inning to respond after Junior Caminero’s solo shot in the first inning, which accounted for all the scoring in front of a rowdy and electric crowd at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.

Caminero’s shot was the 15th for Team D.R. at the tournament, setting a new record. 

Paul Skenes finished his Team USA duties with his start, where he went 4.1 innings pitched with one run given up. He goes 2-0 in the WBC after beating Mexico in the pool stage.

Mason Miller struck out three in the ninth – Caminero, Oneil Cruz and Geraldo Perdomo – to get the save. 

Espresso vs. Arepas: Italy Ready For Venezuela

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It’s been one of the best storylines in the World Baseball Classic. Fueled by a busy espresso machine and plenty of red wine. 

Italy’s WBC runs continues with Monday’s semifinal game against traditional powerhouse Venezuela, who took out the reigning champions Japan in the quarterfinals.

The battle on the mound for the game will be an MLB veteran against a budding youngster: Michael Lorenzen will start for Italy and Keider Montero for Venezuela.

A 34-year-old right-hander, Lorenzen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the group stage 8-6 upset of the United States on Tuesday.

“I faced him many times,’ said Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, a former big league catcher. “This is the perfect guy.”

Lorenzen, an All-Star in 2023, was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA in 26 starts and one relief appearances for Kansas City last year, then became a free agent and signed an $8 million, one-year contract with Colorado. If Italy wins, Aaron Nola would be lined up to start Tuesday night’s final against the U.S. or the Dominican Republic.

Montero, a 25-year-old right-hander, pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Monday in a 4-0 first-round win over Nicaragua.

He made his big league debut on May 29, 2024, and was 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 12 starts and eight relief appearances last year for Detroit during a season in which he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo six times. Monero was 4-4 with a 5.91 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances for the Mud Hens.

Montero had three postseason appearances last year and got a save in the AL Division Series opener, an 11-inning win over Cleveland.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

LoanDepot Park (Miami) – The epic semifinal between the United States and the Dominican Republic was everything it was hyped up to be. 

Between both countries, there were 17 players who have already been All-Stars — the most All-Stars starting in a World Baseball Classic semifinal or final, surpassing the 11 who played in the 2017 WBC final between the USA and Puerto Rico.

It was quite possibly the most talent on a baseball field in a single game with stakes.

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Powered by powerful pitching, heads-up plays and excellent offensive timing, Team USA knocked off the Dominican Republic with a 2-1 win in the semifinals on Sunday night at loanDepot Park. The Dominican Republic, which featured its most dominant roster in the history of the WBC, suffered its first loss of the tournament as their “platano-powered” run came to an end.

Here are my takeaways:

1. Don’t run on Captain America

This was, arguably, the play of the game. 

The Dominican Republic took a 1-0 lead over the USA in the second inning and they were threatening to pile on in the third, just like they had done all tournament. But their previous five games in the WBC, two of which included mercy-ruling the opponent, didn’t feature a Gold-Glove caliber, three-time MVP patrolling right field.

With two outs in the third, the top of the Dominican Republic lineup was cooking after Fernando Tatis Jr. reached base on a fielder’s choice. The heavily-favored Dominican crowd urged the team to tack on some runs against Paul Skenes and the USA when Ketel Marte laced a single to right field. 

Tatis, who doesn’t have elite sprint speed to begin with, opted to test Aaron Judge’s arm in right field. As Tatis went from first to third, Judge fired a 95 mph laser to USA third baseman Gunnar Henderson, who tagged Tatis for the final out of the inning. Juan Soto, meanwhile, watched it all happen from the on-deck circle.

As much as Tatis and the Dominican Republic found out the hard way not to run on Judge’s superhuman arm, it was also a silly decision to try and advance to third with his team’s best hitter due up. All the momentum they generated instantly vaporized on that play. The USA put up a pair of runs on solo shots from Roman Anthony and Henderson in the next inning, and the Dominican Republic never scored again.

2. In the history books

Junior Caminero put the Dominican Republic on the board and in the history books with his third home run of the tournament on Sunday. The 22-year-old’s solo shot off Skenes marked the Dominican Republic’s 15th home run of this year’s WBC, setting a new record for the most home runs by a single team in the tournament’s history. The previous record of 14 home runs was set by Mexico in the 2009 WBC, which was headlined by Adrian Gonzalez.

Besides Caminero, five other Dominican Republic hitters had multiple home runs in this year’s tournament. Despite how stacked the lineup was, the country met its match against a dream team USA squad that flourished with their pitching on Sunday.

3. Sevy holds it down

This was a memorable outing for Luis Severino, who had the odds stacked against him, but still gave the Dominican Republic all he had in the semifinal. Severino was amped up throughout his 68-pitch outing, throwing so hard he was willing to risk blowing his arm out later in the year for the Athletics. 

Severino threw six pitches that clocked in at 99 mph or more against the USA on Sunday. He had five such pitches in the entire 2025 season for the Athletics, when his four-seamer averaged 96.1 mph. His best moment of the game came in the third inning, when he delivered back-to-back strikeouts against Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber and stranded runners on second and third.

Going into Sunday, the Dominican Republic was being criticized for failing to line up one of their best pitchers, Sandy Alcantara or Cristopher Sanchez, to start the semifinal. USA, on the other hand, planned in advance for Skenes to take the hill on Sunday. 

Severino’s 4.54 ERA last season didn’t tell the whole story. He struggled at home in the Athletics’ hitter-friendly ballpark (6.01 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 15 starts) and excelled on the road (3.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 14 starts). On Sunday, Severino showed why he was once upon a time the Yankees’ No. 1 pitching prospect, and eventually a two-time All-Star.

4. Bednar gets away with his usual act

David Bednar just can’t help himself sometimes. 

The right-handed reliever came out of the bullpen to pitch the seventh inning of a tight, one-run game when he allowed a one-out double to his Yankees teammate, Austin Wells. Geraldo Perdomo followed with a single to center, moving Wells up to third, and then Perdomo promptly stole second base. Bednar didn’t even bother paying attention to him. He was locked in on the top of the Dominican Republic lineup, and he delivered some of the fiercest outs of the game.

Tatis swung wildly at Bednar’s perfectly executed splitters in the dirt, striking out on four pitches for the second out of the frame. Rinse, wash, repeat. Ketel Marte, too, was fooled by Bednar’s nasty arsenal, this time flailing at his 78 mph curveball and whiffing for the final out of the seventh.

Bednar is known to create chaos on the basepaths late in the game, in high-leverage moments. It’s just a part of his act, and Yankees fans will have to become familiar with that stress this season as he gets ready to take on full-time closing duties in the Bronx.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Italy continues its unlikely run at the World Baseball Classic and will next take on Venezuela in Monday’s semifinal game. The Venezuelans are having their own storybook run after eliminating Shohei Ohtani and defending WBC champions Japan in the quarterfinals. 

Next up is a spot in the final.

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The game will be Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. 

How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic

FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks. 

The Italy vs. Venezuela semifinal is on FS1 on Monday (8 p.m. ET). The Championship Game will be on FOX on Tuesday, March 17 (8 p.m. ET). 

All games will be available for streaming on the FOX Sports app and FOX One. Catch the action on the following streaming options:

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• FOXSports.com and FOX Sports app
• FOX One

Italy vs. Venezuela Lineups, Pitchers

Michael Lorenzen will start for Italy and Keider Montero for Venezuela.

A 34-year-old right-hander, Lorenzen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the group stage 8-6 upset of the United States on Tuesday.

“I faced him many times,’ said Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, a former big league catcher. “This is the perfect guy.”

Lorenzen, an All-Star in 2023, was 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA in 26 starts and one relief appearances for Kansas City last year, then became a free agent and signed an $8 million, one-year contract with Colorado.

If Italy wins, Aaron Nola would be lined up to start Tuesday night’s final against the U.S. or the Dominican Republic.

Montero, a 25-year-old right-hander, pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Monday in a 4-0 first-round win over Nicaragua.

He made his big league debut on May 29, 2024, and was 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 12 starts and eight relief appearances last year for Detroit during a season in which he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo six times. Monero was 4-4 with a 5.91 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances for the Mud Hens.

Montero had three postseason appearances last year and got a save in the AL Division Series opener, an 11-inning win over Cleveland.

WBC Schedule

Semifinals

Monday, March 16

• Italy vs. Venezuela (8 p.m., LoanDepot Park in Miami on FS1)

Final

Tuesday, March 17

• SF 1 winner vs. SF2 winner (8 p.m., LoanDepot Park in Miami on FOX)

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The last time that Team USA competed in the World Baseball Classic, Paul Skenes hadn’t even made his major league debut yet. In fact, it wasn’t until months later that the Pittsburgh Pirates would select him with the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Now a two-time All-Star and the reigning National League Cy Young winner, Skenes is one of the most feared pitchers in all baseball and an integral starter for Team USA under Mark DeRosa — both opportunities he doesn’t take for granted.

“The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey,” Skenes told World Series champion and MLB on FOX analyst Alex Rodriguez in an interview ahead of Team USA’s game vs. the Dominican Republic. “You’re playing for a whole lot more. It’s great to play for a city, great to play for Pittsburgh in the regular season, but playing for your country, it’s a different level.”

Skenes made his first official appearance for Team USA against Mexico in pool play. He pitched four innings and posted seven strikeouts, which is the all-time record for most strikeouts by a Team USA pitcher at the World Baseball Classic.

“I wasn’t sure what it would feel like coming in,” Skenes said of the World Baseball Classic. “I think it’s one of things where you just don’t know what it’s going to feel like. Now being in it and seeing the atmosphere and playing the games, it’s everything I could have imagined.”

Skenes will take the mound for Team USA once again in Sunday’s semifinal against an undefeated Dominican Republic team headlined by MLB All-Stars Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr. 

The stakes have never been higher for the 23-year-old ace, but he keeps a healthy perspective by reminding himself who he’s representing at the World Baseball Classic: “America,” Skenes said.

“Our servicemen and women don’t have the luxury of losing, it’s not really an option for them,” Skenes added. “We’re not going to war, but is what we do in America: we fight and we win. That’s our responsibility.”

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

LoanDepot Park (Miami) – The Venezuelans did it. They actually did it. 

Sparked by Ronald Acuña Jr.’s electric leadoff at-bat, the rest of Venezuela’s stacked roster was not going to rest until it ended Japan’s title defense. It was always going to take a team effort to dethrone the Samurai and their intimidating championship pedigree. It was always going to be a highly competitive matchup, and boy, did it deliver. 

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Japan, try as they might, couldn’t overcome the powerful offensive blows from Venezuela’s deep lineup. Players looked dejected as their magical, undefeated run at the World Baseball Classic came to an end. 

Japan has won the WBC three times, including most recently in 2023, for the most titles in the tournament’s history. No other country has won the title multiple times, but that can all change this year with the reigning champions expunged from the tournament. 

Here are my takeaways:

1. Wilyer Abreu brought down the house

There are wild dugout celebrations, and then there is the complete surrender to euphoria that Venezuela felt in the sixth inning after reclaiming the lead from Japan. 

Though Venezuela trailed 5-4 entering the sixth inning, the heart of the order was all over Hiromi Itoh, Japan’s fourth pitcher of the night, prepared and ready for the Japanese right-hander. Ezequiel Tovar ripped a leadoff single to right, then he got a huge lead off of first base before Gleyber Torres singled to left. Tovar was already pulling into third base as Torres reached first. 

On the mound, Itoh seemed rattled.

Abreu, who had been waiting all tournament for his first home run, picked the ideal moment to explode. Waiting for a fastball from Itoh, Abreu finally got one chest-high that he sent to the right-field seats, putting Venezuela in front, 7-5. 

Before the ball even landed, the Venezuelan dugout emptied onto the field in a frenzied display of pure elation. Players jumped, danced, shimmied, hugged and raised their hands as Abreu, screaming and pumping his fists, rounded the bases. It was complete and utter chaos. It was the kind of moment MLB players don’t even remember after, usually saying they blacked out. 

Abreu’s three-run home run gave Venezuela the lead for the first time since the second inning. They never looked back. Later, Abreu said it was the best moment of his career.

2. Anything you can do, I can do better

There was no better way to get the crowd fired up for all the fireworks to come than an electric first inning from Venezuela and Japan. Acuña took Yoshinobu Yamamoto deep on the second pitch of the game. The Venezuela dugout emptied onto the field as the crowd lost its mind. The roar inside loanDepot Park surpassed dangerous decibel levels. Acuña flew around the bases and kept shouting “Vamos!” long after he reached the dugout. 

Yamamoto, four months after being named the 2025 World Series MVP, left a meatball over the center of the plate. One of the most lethal hitters in the sport does not miss that mistake.

Alas, Venezuela’s lead was instantly vaporized.

Who else but Shohei Ohtani picked up his Samurai and Dodger teammate? Before Venezuelan southpaw Ranger Suarez could settle in, Ohtani connected on a slider and sent a leadoff home run of his own to deep center field, reminding anyone who forgot that he is, in fact, the hitter every country on the planet would want at the plate in a do-or-die game. 

Suarez allowed just four home runs to left-handed hitters last season, but that hardly mattered against Ohtani, who has a career OPS of .850 against southpaws. It was Ohtani’s third home run of the tournament. 

3. An unlikely blast 

Suarez, after retiring four straight batters, got into a pickle in the third inning when he walked off the leadoff batter. After recording one out on a sacrifice bunt, Venezuela opted to intentionally walk Ohtani in favor of facing lesser mortals. After all, the top of Japan’s order wasn’t as threatening after outfielder Seiya Suzuki was removed from the game with right knee discomfort following an awkward slide in the second inning. Suzuki’s replacement, center fielder Shota Morishita, had other ideas. 

Morishita, ice-cold, came off the bench and blasted a three-run homer to left field, breaking the tied game and giving Japan a 5-2 lead. 

Japan had to be worried about Suzuki, who limped off the field with a trainer and seemed to have difficulty even going down the dugout steps. But, at the time, Morishita’s enormous blast lessened the sting. The large contingent of Japanese fans, who still hadn’t calmed down from Ohtani’s electric leadoff homer, matched the energy level of the Venezuelans as the roof threatened to come off the building. 

4. Take a bow, Japan 

Team Japan watched as Venezuela celebrated its quarterfinal win on the field. Moments later, swallowing their sadness, the entire team lined up along the third-base line, just like it did a few hours prior for pregame introductions. Japanese players tipped their caps and took a bow, bidding adieu to a tournament they had been used to dominating. 

But things were different this time. 

For one, Japan’s pitching wasn’t as powerful as it was in 2023. Plus, other countries and teams, including Venezuela, stepped up with improved and stacked rosters, hungry to dethrone Japan. 

Finally, Ohtani was again involved in the final out, but he came up empty this time. In 2023, Ohtani, as Japan’s closer, punched out his then-teammate, Mike Trout, to win the championship for Japan. This year, Ohtani represented the final out at the plate, with Japan trailing Venezuela by three runs in the ninth. He popped out to shortstop. 

For Japan, it was their earliest WBC exit since the tournament’s inauguration in 2006. 

For everyone else? Poetic justice.

4 ½. What’s next for Venezuela?

Venezuela, which has now officially qualified for the 2028 Olympics, will face Italy in the WBC semifinals on Monday in Miami. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. 

Italy is riding high after defeating Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals on Saturday. While Venezuela’s pitching staff is deeper than Italy’s, Monday night is still expected to be a tight matchup. 

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

We are down to the final four of the World Baseball Classic, and we’ll have a new champion. 

Defending champion Japan is out after losing to Venezuela in Saturday’s quarterfinals. The South American squad now joins two star-studded powerhouses and one espresso-powered surprise for the semifinals in Miami. 

Italy took down Puerto Rico earlier on Saturday and will now join the party in Miami, where the Azzurri will face Venezuela on Monday. Awaiting them will be the winner of the USA-Dominican Republic semifinal, which will be played on Sunday (8 p.m. ET on FOX). 

Recapping Saturday’s action from the World Baseball Classic and taking a peek at Sunday’s first semifinal game:

Italy Continues Surprise Run, Reaches Semifinals

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The magical run continues for undefeated Italy, which will be taking its Armani suits, espresso machines, cheek-kisses and, most importantly, high-powered offense to the World Baseball Classic semifinals after holding off a late charge from Puerto Rico in Saturday’s quarterfinal to seal an 8-6 win.

“It’s amazing,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said. “This is great. This is one of the best chapters of my life. It’s incredible. This group, it’s phenomenal.”

Italy didn’t homer Saturday after hitting a dozen through its first four wins — and downing espresso shots after each dinger. But its offense still packed enough of a jolt to send the Puerto Ricans home after they had made the quarterfinals for a sixth time.

“There were some special bottles of wine today,” first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said with a smile.

Saturday’s victory came after Italy handed the United States a surprising 8-6 loss in pool play. The Azzurri followed with a 9-1 defeat of Mexico that provided the help the Americans needed to reach the quarterfinals.

Next up for Italy? A date with the team that ousted the champions. 

Japan Ousted By Venezuela in Home-Run Fest

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When Ronald Acuña Jr. homered off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first inning, there was a feeling this game would be fun. When Shohei Ohtani responded with his own solo, we knew we’d have something special brewing. 

What we got was a game that had four home runs and the elimination of the defending champions as Venezuela defeated Japan to move onto the semifinals. 

Shota Morishita had three-run homer for Japan off Ranger Suárez for a 5-2 lead in a four-run third that included Teruaki Sato’s RBI double following an intentional walk to Ohtani. But Venezuela responded with a homer by Maikel Garcia in the fifth and then a three-run shot by Wilyer Abreu to put them on top.

In a twist of fate, Ohtani was the final out of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after a pop-up. He had famously struck out his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout in the 2023 championship to win the title for Japan over the USA. 

Venezuela will take on Italy on Monday’s semifinal with a chance to reach the champhionship game on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET on FOX). 

Skenes, USA Set For Semis Clash vs. Dominican Republic

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Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, will be put to the test as United States looks to return to the World Baseball Classic final. But a juggernaut will be waiting for them in Miami on Sunday (8 p.m. ET on FOX).

“I expect it to be, like, one of the best games of all time,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said ahead of the star-studded semifinal matchup against the Dominican Republic. 

The USA has plenty of sluggers and All-Stars on its squad, headlined by Yankees superstar Aaron Judge and Mariners home-run machine Cal Raleigh. But the Dominicans are stacked too. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Juan Soto. Fernando Tatis. Junior Caminero. That’s a scary lineup no matter which way manager Albert Pujols puts it together. With 14 homers at this tournament, Team D.R. has already tied the WBC record set by Mexico in 2009. 

“It’s exciting,” Judge said of the Dominican style of play. “I know the fans definitely love it. But I try not to look at what other teams are doing, other people are doing. I’m focused on what we got here. We’ve got a special group of guys that love to play this game, they’re excited to be in this room, they’re all honored to be in this room, and they’re not taking it for granted.” 

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

DAIKIN PARK (Houston) – As Team USA quashed a late charge from Canada on Friday night, Paul Skenes had already started the process of preparing for a seemingly indomitable machine. 

The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, the best hope the United States has of getting back to the World Baseball Classic final, took off early to get ready for his Sunday start in Miami where a juggernaut will be waiting. 

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“I expect it to be, like, one of the best games of all time,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said ahead of the star-studded semifinal matchup against the Dominican Republic. 

Despite fielding the most talented roster it has ever assembled, Team USA got to this point by surviving rather than thriving. The U.S. held on late against Mexico, lost to Italy and needed help to advance out of pool play, then held on for life again against its neighbors to the north. 

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic has steamrolled its way through the competition, dancing and bat-flipping and swim-moving and soaring and soaking in every minute of a tournament that so outwardly and obviously means the world to its players. Julio Rodriguez even said it would mean more to win the World Baseball Classic than the World Series. 

“It’s exciting,” Aaron Judge said of the Dominican style of play. “I know the fans definitely love it. But I try not to look at what other teams are doing, other people are doing. I’m focused on what we got here. We’ve got a special group of guys that love to play this game, they’re excited to be in this room, they’re all honored to be in this room, and they’re not taking it for granted.”

The U.S. players say they’re having fun, too, even if it’s not as obvious, even if the wins aren’t as convincing and even if every game is changing the color of their pitching coach’s head. The latest survival was a 5-3 win, during which Canada put the tying runners in scoring position in the seventh. 

“I’m telling everybody, my hair might start falling out I think,” said Andy Pettitte. “It’s all turning gray. But it’s fun.”

Is it?

“I mean, I’m trying to have fun,” Pettitte, a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees, said. “I’m not going to lie, it’s tough. With what we’re doing and how we’re trying to do things and trying to talk through this and figure it out, it’s not easy, but it’s fun, and we knew what we were getting into when we accepted this. The guys have been amazing. I hope they’re having fun. I’m enjoying it.”

Pettitte’s hair isn’t likely to get any thicker with the opponent on deck. 

Just as the U.S. is attempting to avenge its performance three years ago, Team D.R. is looking to do the same. The Dominican Republic won the tournament in 2013 but was bounced in the second round in 2017 and didn’t make it out of pool play in 2023. 

It has started this tournament with a vengeance, pulverizing every pitching staff it has faced. Team D.R. went 4-0 in pool play and entered the quarterfinals with the best run differential in the tournament. The unrelenting behemoth of a lineup has scored 51 runs in five games — and that’s while mercy-ruling two of their opponents in seven innings. 

“They’re one of the greatest countries in the world at baseball,” said Bryce Harper. “They’re young. They’re talented. One through nine in that lineup, they can all go deep. They can all hit for average.”

“We know what type of team they’ve got over there,” added Judge. “Incredible offense, incredible pitching staff, bullpen, everything is just top notch.”

On Friday, the Dominican Republic shut out its latest victim. Austin Wells’ three-run shot triggered a run rule in the seventh against Korea and gave the Dominican Republic the 10-0 win and its 14th home run of the WBC, already tying a tournament record. 

Team USA, meanwhile — with a lineup that many expected to be similarly formidable — has hit half as many homers and scored 11 fewer runs than Team D.R. in the same number of games. The U.S. didn’t hit any home runs in its win on Friday, though Harper had a 416-foot flyout and Alex Bregman and Cal Raleigh both narrowly missed home runs on deep foul balls. 

“If we’re going to win this tournament like we all believe we’re going to, it’s going to take more than home runs,” Judge said. “There’s times we’re not hitting home runs, we’ve got to play small ball, we’ve got to move runners, we’ve got to do different things just to create some offense.”

Added Bregman: “We’ll get it dialed in.” 

DeRosa said he doesn’t see “any crazy changes taking place” with the lineup and believes in the group he has. On the mound, he’ll have perhaps the only person left in the tournament capable of giving the Dominican Republic lineup a challenge. 

Skenes, who threw 60 pitches in four scoreless innings in USA’s win against Mexico, is projected to have a pitch limit of around 75 to 80, though that number is subject to change. 

“He wanted the ball,” Pettitte said. “Before he left today, we were out there talking — man, he’s wanting to get to Sunday — and of course all of us were praying we’d be able to get there and have an opportunity to do this. He’s a special human being, a special kid, and he’s looking forward to it, I know. It’s going to be a great game.”

Added Judge: “I like any game that Paul Skenes pitches.”

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports